A selection of notable records reported to Tanyptera. Includes older, but newly recognized regional vice county records (dates blue). ‘The region’ = VC58, 59, 60 + Cheshire, Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester. All photos are copyright of the recorder unless stated otherwise.

Acari (Mites)

Steneotarsonemus phragmitidis (Tarsonemidae), Marbury Country Park, Northwhich, VC58, 07/09/2024, D. Higginson-Tranter

• Found as a gall on Phramites australis. 
• 1^st VC58 record. 12 UK records, with scattered distribution from Norwhich to Conventry (and one around Colwyn Bay, Denbighshire) (nbnatlas.org.uk) 
• This mite causes a gall within the leaf-sheafs (and rarely the leaf blade itself) of the Common Reed (Phragmites australis). 
• The galls are identified by the obvious and uneven (and sometimes extreme) swelling of the leaf-sheaf, seemingly by the petioles. Lipara lucens, a Chloropid fly, also makes similar galls within reeds, but these are created at the tip of the stem (bladmineerdes.nl). 

Diptera (Flies)

Aulagromyza tridentata (Agromyzidae), Northwich, VC58, 08/09/2024, C. Hynes

• Leaf mine found on Willow.
• 4^th VC58 record. Widespread throughout UK, but Nationally Scarce (as with most leaf miners, likely under recorded) (agromyzidae.co.uk).
• Feeds on several Salix species by living internally between layers of leaf tissue. Mines can be found from July to September. The larva usually pupates outside of the mine, but occasionally within the mine (ukflymines.co.uk).
• The mine is a yellowish blotch that is usually in the lower-surface of the leaf. It can be confused with some micromoth mines (ukflymines.co.uk).

Rhamphomyia variabilis (Empididae), Freshfield Dune Heath, Formby, VC58, 04/09/2024, P. Brighton

• Collected from heather in unusually large numbers.
• 159 NBN Atlas published UK records, mainly in Wales with some across the Midlands and into Scotland (nbnatlas.org.uk). 
• Little is known about their ecology, but other species in the genus form large mating swarms, usually around spring or mid-summer (naturespot.org.uk). Males of other empid species are known to give nuptial gifts of insect prey to females.
• Empidid flies are easily separated from most other families by their large eyes and proboscis, and small head. Rhamphomyia species can be identified through a variety of complex and detailed characteristics (Mike’s Insect Keys)

Cystiphora sonchi (Cecidomyiidae), Southport, VC59, 21/09/2024, P. Gateley

• Larval galls on sow-thistles.
• 11 VC59 records. 68 NBN Atlas published UK records, mostly with a Midlands distribution (nbnatlas.org.uk). 
• The larvae of these gall flies create abnormal growths of plant tissues in which they live and feed and are protected from predators. They can be seen early on throughout the year, but adults emerge around autumn-time (naturespot.org.uk) 
• The galls are easily recognisable as small (4-5mm) circular growths, purplish in colour, on the leaves of sow-thistles. The adults are more difficult to identify (naturespot.org.uk) 

Coleoptera (Beetles)

Trichius fasciatus (Scarabaeidae), Burscough, VC59, 25/09/2024, A. Heaton

• Adult found in garden.
• 1st VC59 record. 687 NBN Atlas published UK records, with most widespread throughout Wales and some in northern Scotland (nbnatlas.org.uk).
• Also known as the Bee Beetle, the larvae develop within deadwood (generally Birch trunks and stumps) (flickr.com, Steven Falk), and appear to be found as adults from June to August (nbnatlas.org.uk).
• They are a distinctive species, with similar species being T. zonatus, a doutbful British species, and T. gallicus which is a recent, and spreading, colonist in the London Area (flickr.com, Steven Falk). T. fasciatus can be distinguished from T. gallicus based on subtle differences in the black elytra bands (wikipedia.org).

Xestobium rufovillosum (Ptinidae), Claremont, Blackpool, VC60, 21/09/2024, N. Lowe

• Found as larva.
• Possible 1st VC60 record. 409 NBN Atlas published UK records, most of which are in the South and Midlands of England (nbnatlas.org.uk). Possibly under-recorded and declining due to pest control and decreased use of their preferred food-source, aged oak timber (wikipedia.org). 
• Also known as the Death-watch Beetle, this species is well-known in folklore as a herald of death approaching due to the tapping sound (thought to be the ticking of a clock counting down until death) which the beetles make to attract mates. These beetles are also well-known because they can be pests by infesting and severely damaging timber structures (wikipedia.org). 

Hemiptera (True Bugs)

Illionoia liriodendri (Aphididae), Calderstones Park, Liverpool, VC59, 19/09/2024, S. McWilliam

• Number of individuals found feeding on the Tulip Tree outside the mansion house.
• 1^st VC59 record. Only 10 NBN Atlas published records across the UK (although this is likely under recording) (nbnatlas.org.uk)
• The Tulip Tree Aphid is native to eastern areas of North America, but the species came into the UK and other European countries with the introduction of the Tulip Tree into parks and gardens as an ornamental plant. They can be seen from spring to summer (influentialpoints.com). 
• There are various colour forms of the aphid, including green, yellow, and pink-red (and colours inbetween). They are distinguished from other aphids based on the plant found on (influentialpoints.com). 

Pantilius tunicatus (Miridae), Freshfield Dune Heath, Formby VC59, 04/09/2024, P. Brighton

• Collected from heather.
• 4th VC59 record. 499 NBN Atlas published records, scattered throughout the UK (nbnatlas.org.uk). 
• This mirid feeds on hazel, alder, and birch where it can be found on the lower branches of those trees. It can be seen from September to October (britishbugs.org.uk).  
• It is quite a distinctive mirid species with its long second antennal second and striking red colouration, although the extent of the red can be variable, and newly emerged adults are often green (britishbugs.org.uk). 

Liorhyssus hyalinus (Rhopalidae), Birkdale, Southport, VC59, 17/09/2024, P. Kinsella

• Found as adult.
• 1st VC59 record. 197 NBN Atlas published records, mostly with a southern distribution (nbnatlas.org.uk). It was previously regarded as a rare vagrant within Britain, but since the 1990s it has become much more frequent and is possibly now established in some areas (britishbugs.org.uk).
• This species mainly feeds on storksbill, but also other composites. It can be found throughout the year (britishbugs.org.uk)
• L. hyalinus is similar in appearance to Rhopalus and Stictoplectus species, but it is easily distinguished by the long membranous wings which extend far past the abdomen (britishbugs.org.uk).

Hymenoptera (Bees, Wasps, Ants & Sawflies)

Dolichovespula media (Vespidae), Ravenmeols LNR, Formby, VC59, 18/09/2024, P. Kinsella

• Adult feeding on ivy flower.
• 11th VC59 record (2nd for the Sefton Coast), with 882 UK records. Widespread throughout the UK, with most records concentrated in the South. (nbnatlas.org.uk)
• Also known as the Median Wasp, this is the second largest social wasp species in the UK (the first being the European Hornet, Vespa crabro). Nests are built in aerial sites, usually on trees and rarely on houses. The flight period is likely from April to September. They feed on a variety of nectars and pollens, and some have even been seen feeding from exudations of trees with Goat Moth larvae inside (bwars.com).
• They are most similar in appearance to Vespula species, but can be separated by their much larger size. Queens of the Median Wasp are most similar to European Hornets, but they can be distinguished by presence of yellow on their thorax (which Hornets do not have) (bwars.com).

Aproceros leucopoda (Argidae), Pinfold Meadow, Ainsdale, VC59, 01/09/2024, B. Smart

• Larval feeding signs on Elm leaves.
• 1^st VC59 record. 549 UK records (nbnatlas.org.uk), and first confirmed in the UK in 2017 (although theorised to have been present before this) (sawflies.org.uk) Scattered records throughout Britain, with most in the southern half. Also recorded in Chorlton on 9^th Sep (also by B. Smart).
• Also known as the Zig-zag Elm sawfly, this species is native to eastern Asia but is now found in many parts of Europe. It is multigenerational (peaking in April to October), and feeds on various species of Elm where it can defoliate trees. As such, it is considered an invasive pest (forestresearch.gov.uk). 
• It is most easily identified through the characteristic zig-zag feeding patterns the larvae makes in the Elm leaves. Interestingly, the head-shape of the adult changes after the first spring generation, possibly due to the decreased muscle-mass required for adults to emerge from the flimsier summer cocoons (sawflies.org.uk) 

Sphecodes niger (Halictidae), Chorley, VC59, 07/09/2024, P. Brennan

• From a collection of bees collected from an ex-sand quarry.
• 1^st VC59 record. 177 NBN Atlas published British records with mostly a Southern/Midlands distribution (nbnatlas.org). Nationally Rare, but increasing in range (bwars.com).
• The Dark Blood Bee is mainly found on calcareous grasslands, but can also be found in soft-rock cliff and heather habitats. It flies from early-April to mid-October (peaking around August to September), and is likely kleptoparasitic on Lassioglossum morio (flickr.com, Steven Falk).
• It is one of the smallest Sphecodes species in the UK, and can be distinguished from other species in the genus by differences in the thorax by the wing bases, as well as through genital dissection (flickr.com, Steven Falk).  

Orthoptera (Grasshoppers and Crickets)

Meconema meridionales (Tettigoniidae), Hough Green, Widnes, VC59, 06/09/2024, K. Busdieker

• Found inside a conservatory.
• 8^th VC59 record. 1,053 NBN Atlas published UK records, with a primarily southern distribution (nbnatlas.org.uk).
• The Southern Oak Bush-cricket is a predatory cricket, feeding on small insects in broadleaved trees. They can be found from mid-August until Autumn (orthoptera.org.uk).
• This species is small and paleish green with a yellow stripe along its back. Similar species include the Oak Bush Cricket, but the two can be distinguished as the Southern Oak Bush Cricket has very small wings, rendering it incapable of flight (orthoptera.org.uk).

iRecord top 10 species September 2024

References